Quick "BITCHING"

[Roger K Fain]

All of you guys (Jeff, Dan, Bobby, etc.) say let's organize...Hell, you are organized..it's called "NHRA"..you belong to an organization. You need to hit them in their pocketbook in a clandestine manner. They have allready stated that they are limiting expenses by cutting back on the number of personnel committed to a given race, so; you need to tax those limited numbers with extra duty. When you go through "tech", replace the 3/8" holddown bolts on your battery with 1/4", or put your outdated window net in the car, or take the double return spring off the carb, and replace it with a single, etc. Be innovative and cause them to "tech" your car more than once to tax the system. When you go through fuel check, report a different fuel than what you are actually using, causing them to reference the wrong page. If you're allowed to park your rig without direction, take up more space than normally allotted which will cause them to send someone out to correct the situation. When your class is called to staging, delay as much as possible to slow down the process (this may require some collusion ). Have the first two or three cars in line develop a mysterious electrical problem, further delaying action. Take the maximum amount of time permissible to stage your car during time trials. When the PRO classes are called to the lanes, don't go to the bleachers, take you whole family or group to the starting line and cause as much obstruction as possible to require the security and track personnel to move you before continuing the event. Organize a pit bike or four-wheeler race in the pits near the vendors, which would require disbursing by track personnel.
Just a few suggestions to help. Have a great day.
(Disclaimer: I am not a NHRA competitor.)

[X-TECH MAN]

Roger....that all sounds like a "TREE HUGGER" protest in Calif. or someplace and it would only hurt the over worked tech people and give cause for NHRA to get rid of legal class racing. Just hit them in thier wallets to get them to take notice. Terry

[Ed Wright]

I can't see making things tougher for our tech guys.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Roger K Fain

All of you guys (Jeff, Dan, Bobby, etc.) say let's organize...Hell, you are organized..it's called "NHRA"..you belong to an organization. You need to hit them in their pocketbook in a clandestine manner. They have allready stated that they are limiting expenses by cutting back on the number of personnel committed to a given race, so; you need to tax those limited numbers with extra duty. When you go through "tech", replace the 3/8" holddown bolts on your battery with 1/4", or put your outdated window net in the car, or take the double return spring off the carb, and replace it with a single, etc. Be innovative and cause them to "tech" your car more than once to tax the system. When you go through fuel check, report a different fuel than what you are actually using, causing them to reference the wrong page. If you're allowed to park your rig without direction, take up more space than normally allotted which will cause them to send someone out to correct the situation. When your class is called to staging, delay as much as possible to slow down the process (this may require some collusion ). Have the first two or three cars in line develop a mysterious electrical problem, further delaying action. Take the maximum amount of time permissible to stage your car during time trials. When the PRO classes are called to the lanes, don't go to the bleachers, take you whole family or group to the starting line and cause as much obstruction as possible to require the security and track personnel to move you before continuing the event. Organize a pit bike or four-wheeler race in the pits near the vendors, which would require disbursing by track personnel.
Just a few suggestions to help. Have a great day.
(Disclaimer: I am not a NHRA competitor.)

I do not see where any of that would do any good, but more likely a great deal of harm.

The NHRA staff that actually works at these events are our friends, I cannot see anything to be gained by ruining those friendships and making their jobs harder.

[Philip Saran]

Maybe NHRA needs to rethink who they are charging the "new" enhanced fees
and look at the "PROS" as a new source of funds.

Lets see each Pro team has at least 10 crew members.....@ $85 each that is
an additional $850.00 per team.

The list could go on and on......

Just my $0.02 cents.

[dartman]

Maybe they need the money.car count are are down and the money is not rolling in.up goes the price of playing.it's the way it is.

[Jack Matyas]

Bruce -- Maybe , just maybe you ought to do something to help fix things rather than trying to make us feel like we're on the Titanic . Remember-- if the NHRA goes under so does Classracer along with the personal soapbox you're on ! ! Also - its not us that are pulling the NHRA's cart -- its the pros .

Personally I have nothing against the IHRA -- I've won many a race with them over the last 35 or so years but there must be a reason that they haven't grown to a larger size than they currently are .

As far as the "Wash 'n Drive " cars go exactly what voice did you want ? Did you expect the NHRA to ask for your approval on these matters ? I believe they already knew how you personally felt .And how do you know that the NHRA is in "serious financial waters" ? Did I miss that memo ?

Happy Easter .....................From the "Christmas City" .

PS-- As Brittany would say -- "Opps, I did it again" -- yep , I picked you apart -- line by line .Sorry -- but I too can voice my opinion.

[Dave Ribeiro]

Hey Jack,

You should be careful, your beginning to show your true colors...If the pros are pulling the cart, then let them pay for it ... The sportsmen racer is always getting it the shorts, we lose parking spots, we pay more entry fees, insurance, etc... Yes, we keep going back, but I think these times are different, no-jobs and alot less money ....
So if racers want to keep racing, it will done at local tracks only, just look at National events they are way down and getting worst .... Wrong time to kick racers when they are already down on their knees and can't effort to travel ... Oh well , why should they listen now, as you say they never cared enough to ask before....One last thing not only sponsors are down but payouts are down 30-40 % , they must think our bills haven't gone up too..... Thank God for choices, so you better start supporting people who support sportsmen racing...........Try it , you may just enjoy racing again !!!!

[John Warehime]

Hey Dave! What's the best way to get to Rockingham from 95 around Richmond?

[Jack Matyas]

Dave -- You're the one who should be careful of what you wish for as a National event can be run without Sportsman racers .Pros are the ones who put people in the stands and pay the bills -- imagine how many employees NHRA could get rid of at National events if they killed off Sportsman -- tech people , staging , scales , fuel check , teardown , tower personel , credentials , the list is endless .All needed for Sportsman racing and they could run without us with a crew of probably 25% of what they use now .

Somehow I missed the part where they reduced the purses by 40 % -- how did you figure that ?

We kept racing last year when gasoline was up over 4 bucks and diesel was over $ 5 -and you're still buying gas and diesel from ExxonMobil - is $200 per year that much of a hardship ? I hope I'm not sounding like I'm supporting the NHRA or their recent price hikes as thats not my intent -- I feel they're just trying to exist like the rest of us ....................

PS-- Yo Ken ! ! ! -- how about a little help here -- I'm standin' all alone ............and the 'injuns( or cowboys in this case ) are circling my wagon .